Measuring apparatus



Sept. 22, 1942. s, T LESTER A2,296,820

MEASURING APPARATUS Patented Septzz, 1942 tlhti'lf STATE. S PATE NT @EHC E 2,296,820' MEAsnRiNG; ABBARA'EUS. Stephen T. Lester, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application. October 12, 1938,. Serial No..234,65,

Y 4 Claims.y (:,(l1.`33 174)v This: invention'v relates to measuring apparatus and particularly toapparatus. intended for the extremely accurate measurement of gaging of articles.

An objectof theV invention is tot providel animproved measuring apparatus' withl which any of a large number of measurementsmay be obtained with extreme accuracy- Another object istoprovidean improved measuring apparatus which may easily be arranged-to provide any desired measurement. f

Another objectisto provide an improved measuring appartus which will consist of` few and simple parts. t

Another object is toprovdean improved measuring apparatus.` whichwillbe small and easily handled.

Another'object is to provide an-improved-measuring apparatus which will `not be affected by handling.

Another object is to providean improved measuring` apparatus in which maximum number off measurements may beobtained with a minimum number of parts.

Another object is to provideanim-prevedmeasuring apparatus in which all the parts will be-ofsubstantialsizeand therefore-'convenient in manufacturing` and handling.

Another object is to'prov'ide an improved meas-t uring apparatus .in which the accuracy isl depend'- ent on the parts chosen ratherthan upon ad justments.

Another obj ecty is toprovideuring apparatus which may nomically manufactured.

Other objectswill hereinafter appear.

The invention willbe better understood f-rom the description of one practical embodiment thereof, illustrated inthe accompanying drawing; in which:

Figure 1 is-a perspective view ofa number of parts. preparatoryy to assembly into operativeAY relation;

Figure 2 is aperspective view parts. suchl as shown. in Figure relation ready-for use as a gage;

Figure 34 is afragmentary, partly sectionalview showing thel manner in whichv the parts may be assembled; and

Figure 4. islan enlarged fragmentary sectional View4 off some of the lparts of the preceding figures.

In. the drawing are illustrated a series ofgage blocks I, 2, 3, and 4 of cylindrical shape havingplane parallel. ends. The distances between the lplane surfaces on the ends of each block are very an improved measbe easily andn eco of a plurality of CTT 1, in assembled Vj of the blocks, and so accurately `determi-ned, thebl'ocks Ybeing lapped` onotherwisecarefully finishedso that these surfacesq arenot onlyt anV accurate and known distance apart, butv are precisely normal. to theaxes ciently; 'accurate that -theblocks4 may be wr-ung together, being held of air from. between and the atmospheric pressure on the-blocks.;

the. exterior of.

- addition-tothecylindrical;blocks-having.twoA

withua: contactingfanviL 9 for` use in, obtaining measurements.

'Bhe anvil is--shown cal4 piece of metal;` having a engaging a cylindrical thread H in anaxial-per-v foration through thea end-block, and which may beloclced in placev by means ofy a lock screwor threaded plugv l2, likewise threaded-in the` opening through theendlblock.

It will be apparent that screw-- l2', theA contactr tip turning the same relative may be-lockedinto its newly adjusted `position by tightening thelock screw:- securely against the end ofcontacttipt The blocks, other than hereinafter bereferred to as cylindrical blocks which may beV understood tovrefer to-those blocks having twopa-rallel end surfaces, and irrespectiveL of their: crosstsectional4 shape. Though the by. backing: oithe-lock il; may be adjusted by circular form shown islv most convenient, elliptical cylinders, or evenI prismatic shapes might be usedI if-y desired.

By properly choosing the thickness betweenttheures 1.0025 inches, and the fifth measures 1.005v

inches.

The cylindrical blocks may' be considered as dividedtin'f-our series, therst of which, as measthat the planes are suffiimposition. by the exclusion. the adjacent block surfaces.

end` surfaces, there-.are provided a series B- and V'l each ofV which has,g oney as an. adjustable cylindri-A threaded shank.- Ill.v

to the end block, and.`

the end blocks, will- 9 and end surfacesy 8y ofthetend ured across their plane surfaces 5, are in length respectively .100, .200, .300, .400, .500, .600, .700, .800, and .900 inches.

The second series consists of nine more blocks measuring across their plane surfaces .201, .202, .203, .204, .205, .206, .207, .208, .209 inches.

The third set comprises blocks of lengths of .210, .220, .230, .240, .250, .260, .270, .280, and .290 inches.

The remaining six blocks measure respectively one, two, three, four, five, and six inches.

If, for example, it is desired`-With this set of blocks to measure a distance of 5.60675 inches, it is only necessary to assemble the end blocks measuring .9995 and 1.00025 inches with the three inch block, the .400 inch block and the .207 inch block.

If a quarter of a thousandth more is required, the 1.0005 inch end block is substituted for 1.00025 inch. If a quarter of a thousandth less is desired, one of the one inch blocks is substituted for the 1.00025 inch, so that it will be apparent that dimensions and quite odd decimal fractions may be readily obtained with a small number of blocks.

It is also apparent that no block is less than .100 inch in thickness, and only one is less than .200 inch, so that all are large enough for-convenient handling.

To assist in maintaining the blocks in position afterassembly (in which they would otherwise be held only by atmospheric pressure dueto the fact that they are wrung together) there are provided a series of sleeves I3 and I4, shown as generally cylindrical in shape, and which are preferably composed of non-metallic material which is an insulator against both heat and electricity, such, for instance, as hard rubber or molded plastic material.

These sleeves are shown as slotted lengthwise at I5 to permit the edges to be somewhat sprung apart upon being put over the blocks, so that the sleeves will tightly grip the same.

Their exterior may be conveniently roughened as by knurling I6 to provide a rm grip for the user.

Their ends are shown as stepped or notched at I1 for about one-half their extent. The shaping of the end in this manner is useful in the assembly of` the blocks, as will be apparent from Figure 3, which shows how one block I may be the end 9 through one hole I9 of the band, then stretch the band until it can pass the other tip 9 through the other hole I9, whereupon he releases the band which resilientlyl presses the blocks together.

It will be apparent that when a series of blocks have been assembled with their appropriate sleeve or sleeves and clamping band, the finished article is no more bulky or heavy than would be a one-piece gage made to give the same measure.

It will also be apparent that the accuracy of the assembled blocks is the full equivalent of any K type of measuring standard, such as the much inserted within the sleeve with its end projecting slightly beyond the notched portion of the sleeve, but not quite reaching the longer portion thereof, and how the end of the next block 6 as it is wrung onto the first block, may be guided into position by the projecting flange-like cylindrical part of the sleeve projecting beyond the notch.

After the blocks have been caused to adhere, the sleeve is, of course, slid over their juncture to assist in preventing displacement either radially or by relative tilting of their axes.

The sleeve further serves as a handle, preventing the transmission of heat from the hand of the operator to the blocks, or the transmissionA of electric current, should the apparatus be used upon or touched to any article in an electric circuit.

Further to hold the blocks in position, there are provided a plurality 0f elastic clamps, each of which is in effect an endless band I8 of elastic material such as rubber provided with two oppositely disposed holes I9.

The user can select one 'of these clamps which is slightly shorter than his assembled blocks, pass more dumbersome rectangular blocks now in vogue.

Moreover, with a comparatively few parts any one of a large number of gage sizes can be instantly provided by properly assembling blocks from the thirty-eight sizes mentioned, and that a gage can be quickly shortened or lengthened by a small gradation, as for instance, where go" and no go gaging is required.

While I have described the illustrated embodiment of my invention in some particularity, obviously many others will readily occur to those skilled in this art, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to the precise details shown and described, but claim as my invention all embodiments, variations, and modifications thereof coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. An end block comprising a cylindrical metallic piece having a piane base normal to its axis, the block being formed with an axial threaded aperture therein, an adjustable contacting tip having a threaded shank engaging the thread within the aperture, and a locking screw contacting said shank and threaded in said aperture.

2. A gage comprising a plurality of cylindrical blocks each having parallel plane end surfaces at a predetermined distance, the blocks being secured together axially by the bringing in Contact of the plane end surfaces of successive blocks and excluding air from the space betweensaid surfaces, and a cylindrical sleeve slidable axially over the assembled blocks and holding said blocks from radial displacgement relative each other, said sleeve being composed of heat insulating material, projecting contacting tips on the end blocks of the series, and an elastic band engaging said contacting tips and retaining the sleeve against axial movement beyond the series of blocks.

3. A gage comprising a plurality of cylindrical blocks each having parallel plane end surfaces at a, predetermined distance, the blocks being secured together axially by the bringing in contact of the plane end surfaces of successive blocks and excluding air from the space between saidY surfaces, and a slit sleeve slidable axially over the assembled blocks and holding saidY blocks from radial displacement relative each other, each end of the sleeve being defined by two spaced planes normal to its axis. 4. A gage comprising a plurality of cylindrical blocks each having parallel plane end surfaces at a predetermined distance, the blocks being secured together by said surfaces being brought into contact to exclude air, and a slit cylindrical resilient sleeve of slightly less normal internal diameter than the diameter of the blocks frictionally engaging the cylindrical surfaces of said blocks and maintaining them from relative radial displacement.

STEPHEN T. LESTER. 

